Dr. Oz Blog – The Oz Bloghttp://blog.doctoroz.com
The official blog of The Dr. Oz ShowMon, 20 May 2019 16:00:22 +0000en-UShourly1https://wordpress.org/?v=4.9.10http://blog.doctoroz.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/cropped-favicon_newlogo-02-32x32.pngDr. Oz Blog – The Oz Bloghttp://blog.doctoroz.com
3232Donating Blood: What You Need to Knowhttp://blog.doctoroz.com/dr-oz-blog/donating-blood-what-you-need-to-know
http://blog.doctoroz.com/dr-oz-blog/donating-blood-what-you-need-to-know#respondMon, 01 Jan 2018 11:00:50 +0000http://blog.doctoroz.com/?p=3433With the hectic bustle of the holidays, bad weather and spikes in illness, rates of blood donation tend to dip significantly in the month of January, which is one reason...

With the hectic bustle of the holidays, bad weather and spikes in illness, rates of blood donation tend to dip significantly in the month of January, which is one reason why this month has been designated National Blood Donor Month. Every two seconds, someone in our country needs blood – and we never know when we or someone we love could be one of them. Learn how to join the ranks of the 6.8 million Americans who donate blood and help give the gift of life to someone who needs you.

Why donate blood?
Every day, hospitals and emergency rooms need more than 36,000 units of blood to help patients who have cancer or other diseases such as sickle cell disease, who need new organs, or who have been hurt in accidents. According to the American Red Cross, one car accident victim could require as many as 100 pints of blood. Blood cannot be manufactured, so it must be donated.

Approximately 38 percent of the U.S. population is estimated to be eligible to donate blood, but less than 10 percent actually does. While type O-negative blood is most in demand because it can be donated to anyone regardless of their blood type, all types of blood are needed. Just one blood donation can be used to save up to three people.

Who is eligible to donate?
In general, blood donors must feel healthy enough to go about their usual activities, and if they have a chronic condition like diabetes, it must be under control. In most states, donors have to be at least 17 years old (or 16 with parental consent) and weigh at least 110 pounds (weight requirements vary if donors are under 18 or in high school).

Certain qualifications may make people ineligible to donate blood or may require that a donor wait a certain amount of time before donating. These include:

People with a temperature above 99.5° F, people with a productive cough and those who don’t feel well should also wait until they are better to donate.

People on antibiotics for an acute infection should wait until they have taken the last pill to donate blood, but preventative antibiotics for a dental procedure or acne are okay. A donation is okay 10 days after taking antibiotics.

Those who have traveled to an area where malaria is found must wait 12 months before donating, or three years if they lived there. Those who have traveled to Iraq must wait 12 months after their return. People who have spent large amounts of time in a country where mad cow disease is found cannot donate blood.

People who have had syphilis or gonorrhea must wait 12 months after treatment to donate. People who have ever had a positive HIV test or viral hepatitis should not donate.

Men who have had sex with men are currently not allowed to donate blood if they have been sexually active in the past 12 months, a policy which has been very controversial.

People who got a tattoo in a state that does not regulate tattoo parlors must wait 12 months.

Pregnant women may not donate until six weeks after giving birth.

Anyone who has ever used IV drugs not prescribed by a physician cannot donate.

Blood pressure must be between 90/50 and 180/100.

Certain medications and other health conditions may impact donor eligibility. For a full list of eligibility criteria, check the American Red Cross website here.

What does donating blood involve?
Before going to donate blood, it’s important to hydrate with water or other healthy fluids. Also, be sure to bring an ID and a list of medications you are taking. Wear comfortable clothes with sleeves that can roll up.

At the donor center, each donor must first register and provide a brief medical history. They then undergo a brief mini-physical exam to check temperature, blood pressure, pulse, and hemoglobin. All information provided is confidential. Blood is then taken using a sterile, unused needle. The actual donation process takes about 8 to 10 minutes, but the Red Cross says donors should expect to be at the donation center for about an hour from start to finish. Average blood volume in an adult is about 10 pints, about one of which is taken during donation. After donation, most centers will provide drinks like water and juice and some snacks. You should hydrate with water and avoid strenuous exercise or heavy lifting for the rest of the day.

A healthy donor can donate red blood cells every 56 days. People may also donate platelets, plasma or double red cells, though the donation process for these may differ from what is described above.

]]>http://blog.doctoroz.com/dr-oz-blog/donating-blood-what-you-need-to-know/feed0Listen to an Excerpt From Dr. Oz’s Food Can Fix It!http://blog.doctoroz.com/dr-oz-blog/listen-to-an-excerpt-from-dr-ozs-food-can-fix-it
Tue, 26 Sep 2017 19:07:29 +0000http://blog.doctoroz.com/?p=7703Did you catch the reveal of Dr. Oz’s new book, Food Can Fix It on The Dr. Oz Show today? Check out an excerpt from the audiobook (recorded by Dr. Oz!) below....

]]>How to Recognize Sugar in New Nutrition Labelshttp://blog.doctoroz.com/dr-oz-blog/how-to-recognize-sugar-in-new-nutrition-labels
Fri, 06 Jan 2017 14:00:17 +0000http://blog.doctoroz.com/?p=7166In May 2016, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced an update to the Nutrition Facts label for packaged foods and introduced a new section on the label for added...

In May 2016, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced an update to the Nutrition Facts label for packaged foods and introduced a new section on the label for added sugars. Many foods contain naturally-occurring sugars, but this label addition breaks down the amount and type of extra sugars that are included in processed foods.

Added sugars can appear in various forms including:

Single sugars or monosaccharides such as fructose, galactose, or glucose (also called dextrose)

Double sugars or disaccharides that contain two molecules of sugars such as lactose, maltose, or sucrose

Sugars from syrups and honey such as cane invert syrup, corn syrup, or high fructose corn syrup

Sugars from concentrated fruit or vegetable juices that are “in excess of what would be expected from the same volume of 100 percent fruit or vegetable juice of the same type”

Sugars are often added to foods for flavor, to enhance texture, and preserve foods. You can find added sugars in an assortment of foods from frozen desserts to sweetened beverages. Although sugar can be broken down in the body into energy, a majority of Americans tend to consume sugar in excess. According to the FDA, the typical American eats up to 270 calories or 13 percent of total calories in added sugars per day. Many of these added sugars come from packaged desserts, drinks, and sweet treats that offer little to no nutritional value and can increase the risk of developing diseases. The federal dietary guidelines recommend that an individual consume a maximum of 10 percent of total calories from added sugars, or 150 calories if you were following a 1,500 calorie per day diet.

If you suspect you may be eating too much sugar, take the quiz to find out if you need to cut back on the sweet stuff and follow this 14-day plan to cut down on your sugar intake.

]]>5 Tips for Traveling With Diabeteshttp://blog.doctoroz.com/dr-oz-blog/5-tips-for-traveling-with-diabetes
Thu, 10 Nov 2016 16:30:47 +0000http://blog.doctoroz.com/?p=7066As the holiday season begins to kick into high gear and in honor of Diabetes Awareness Month, I want to take some time to focus on traveling. If you or...

As the holiday season begins to kick into high gear and in honor of Diabetes Awareness Month, I want to take some time to focus on traveling. If you or someone you know has diabetes, it’s important to consider additional preparations to make before driving or flying – no matter the distance.

Before getting behind the wheel, you should always check blood glucose levels and pack snacks that you can eat in a pinch. Blood glucose levels should be above 100 before traveling and should stay above 100 in transit. Be mindful of any symptoms you may have while driving or riding. If at any point you feel the effects of low blood sugar, such as confusion, fatigue, lightheadedness, or sweating, it’s critical that you pull over in a safe area as soon as possible. When the car is parked, have a snack that will help your body return to healthy glucose levels. Good choices include whole wheat crackers and cheese, unsalted almonds and dried cranberries, an apple, or a peanut butter protein bar.

If you’re traveling for longer distances, for an extended period of time, or to a new and unfamiliar location, consider these five helpful tips:

Contact your insurance company to find out whether or not you’ll be covered during your trip. If not, make plans to get covered.

Make a list of essential items (prescription medications, syringes, pen needles, etc.) to pack. If you’ve been managing your symptoms for years, you likely have a mental list of these items, but it’s helpful to reference a cheat sheet. Once you’ve made your list, make a copy for a family member or friend to keep on hand and remember to stock up and pack the items. It may be helpful to bring a doctor’s note that states your condition and explains why you need to travel with medications.

As you pack, take care to label everything. Organize the items according to a consistent system that makes sense to you—the goal is to know where everything is, so that in case of an emergency, you’re able to access what you need without digging through other, unrelated items.

Bring double the number or amount you need of any given item (including medication!) on your list. When flying, extreme temperature fluctuations in luggage holds may destroy insulin or glucometers. Therefore, insulin and diabetic medication should not be checked and instead, kept in a carry-on bag. If you are embarking on a long journey, pack glucose tablets, which provide the quickest way to combat dangerously low blood sugar levels.

Carry copies of your prescriptions. If you have to fill a medication at a pharmacy you’ve never been to, you’ll save a lot of time with the necessary paperwork ready to go. Of course, make sure to bring your medical ID bracelet as well. If you’re traveling alone, mention to the person sitting next to you or a cabin crew member that you’re diabetic, in addition to wearing your bracelet. This can save valuable time in case of an emergency before your bracelet is spotted.

Once you’ve put in the effort to set up a travel plan, you’ll ensure a smoother trip without all the stress of being away from home. Whether you’re jet setting off to a faraway adventure or simply returning home for the holidays, I wish you and yours a safe and healthy journey.

]]>The Not-So-Sweet Truth About Artificial Sweetenershttp://blog.doctoroz.com/dr-oz-blog/the-not-so-sweet-truth-about-artificial-sweeteners
Tue, 25 Oct 2016 14:00:37 +0000http://blog.doctoroz.com/?p=7012Here’s what we know about artificial sweeteners: they’re not good for you. The average American consumes 24 pounds of artificial sugar each year. Researchers have linked sweeteners — which have...

Here’s what we know about artificial sweeteners: they’re not good for you. The average American consumes 24 pounds of artificial sugar each year. Researchers have linked sweeteners — which have long been popular low-calorie substitutes for sugar — to diabetes and heart disease. Some studies have even associated them with weight gain. I’ve discussed how these sweeteners can harm your bladder and cause diarrhea. Still, misconceptions about artificial sweeteners still exist. I often hear from folks who believe they’ve found the “healthy” sweetener. The truth is, these sweeteners are unhealthy across the board. A closer look at what each consists of will help to highlight how your preferred sweetener might affect you.

Let’s consider three of the most popular varieties:

Sweet‘N Low: This sugar substitute has 0 calories. It’s about 300 times sweeter than sugar. Its main ingredient, saccharin, comes from a chemical called toluene, which is found in petroleum.

Equal, or NutraSweet: This sweetener has 4 calories per gram. It’s about 200 times sweeter than sugar. Its main ingredient, aspartame, can cause headaches and dizziness for people who are sensitive to it.

Splenda: This artificial sweetener has 0 calories. It’s 600 times sweeter than sugar. Its main ingredient is sucralose, but a compound called maltodextrin (often used in diet soda and snack foods) is added to dilute the extreme sweetness of sucralose.

]]>Improve Your Health and #ConnectInRealLifehttp://blog.doctoroz.com/dr-oz-blog/improve-your-health-and-connectinreallife
Tue, 18 Oct 2016 13:00:12 +0000http://blog.doctoroz.com/?p=7015This summer, my team and I conducted the largest study we’ve ever done on women’s health, asking women across the United States about the issues that affected them the most,...

This summer, my team and I conducted the largest study we’ve ever done on women’s health, asking women across the United States about the issues that affected them the most, touching on issues surrounding their health, relationships, and thoughts about the future. The story of women today is multifaceted and complicated but one of the main takeaways we learned is that strong social connections make a positive impact both in the short-term and in the long run.

In The Dr. Oz Show Health Report, an estimated 60 percent of survey respondents admitted to feeling lonely or isolated frequently. Scientific research has shown that loneliness and a lack of social interaction and community can be just as harmful to one’s health as smoking. One study even estimated that loneliness could cut your life expectancy by nearly eight years. To bring awareness to this important issue and to encourage you – my outspoken readers and viewers – we’re launching the #ConnectInRealLife social media campaign to spread the word about adult loneliness.

If you’re not already on The Regimen and planning out your weekly get-togethers with family and friends, it’s time to reach out to the people in your community who you care about and want to keep in touch with. Set aside time to catch up, try a new activity, exercise, or share a meal together and devote at least 10 minutes every day to improve both your health and the health of your family member or friend. It’s a win-win situation that will increase longevity and boost your happiness simultaneously. Snap a photo of you and your friends and share on social media. Post it on my Facebook page, on Twitter, or Instagram and hashtag it #ConnectInRealLife and soon, we’ll be building a happier, more involved community and inspire others to do the same.

]]>Analyzing the Presidential Debate: What the Candidates’ Voices Said That They Didn’thttp://blog.doctoroz.com/dr-oz-blog/analyzing-the-presidential-debate-what-the-candidates-voices-said-that-they-didnt
Wed, 28 Sep 2016 13:47:06 +0000http://blog.doctoroz.com/?p=6972Co-written by Erik Feingold, chief innovation officer of Sharecare The presidential election is only two months away and the race continues to heat up. More than 80 million people watched Monday...

The presidential election is only two months away and the race continues to heat up. More than 80 million people watched Monday night’s debate, more than any debate in television history. While there has been significant analysis of what both candidates said, what it meant, and how accurate it was, there has been little discussion of the way they said it.

It turns out that by measuring the stress in a voice we can get information at the nexus of physical and emotional well being. In most cases though, our powers of deduction are not sensitive enough to detect the subtleties in a voice that give us a clear view into a speaker’s true emotions. But a new technology, developed by Sharecare, allows us to do a fractal analysis of our voice in real-time to tell us a lot about our levels of stress. This has great implications for understanding your health, but also comes in handy for understanding more about our presidential candidates when applied to how they handle themselves in the debate. (You can watch the app’s analysis of the debate here.)

The app measures both a person’s level of excitability or mindset in a specific situation from calm to very intense as well as a person’s stress type at that time. During the course of Monday’s debate, Donald Trump was overall more often stressed than we’ve seen in the voice analysis we’ve done of the previous primary debates. This may be because of a very interesting phenomenon we see with Mr. Trump. When he is directly attacking his opponents his levels of excitability remains low or productive. In other words, he appears very comfortable with this type of behavior. However, his stress levels peak when he attacks the issues or the status quo, suggesting that these issues are more emotionally reactive for him. For example, on Monday when he discussed stop and frisk and the loss of jobs he showed high impatience and worry and became outright irritated when fighting ISIS came up. In this week’s debate with Secretary Clinton, he discussed these issues more than in the previous debates, which could account for why he became stressed more often on Monday night.

We also see an interesting pattern in the analysis of Secretary Clinton’s voice that is very different than what we see with Mr. Trump. She is less stressed when discussing issues and gets more emotionally charged, and stressed, when confronting her opponent. According to the algorithm used by Sharecare’s technology, Secretary Clinton had high levels of stress and became very irritated when she attacked Mr. Trump’s comments on women or when she suggested he was living in his own world with regard to his views on past trade agreements.

However, when Secretary Clinton was debating the issues, such as the economy, her level of excitability was low or productive and she was merely nervous and impatient. So it turns out in this debate Secretary Clinton was actually more stressed than in her previous debates with Bernie Sanders, likely because in those debates the candidates spent more time debating the issues, rather than each other’s merits.

While both candidates had very different stress responses toward each other and toward the issues through the debate, both were hitting their individual emotional highs and lows and both were able to find their balance. It will be interesting to see if their patterns change in their next meeting. The science of voice analysis gives us a fascinating look into the emotions of both candidates, but when it comes to what that means for their candidacy, we’ll leave that to the pundits.

If you’d like to analyze your own voice and relationships, you can try the Sharecare app yourself. Go to www.sharecare.com/voice to check it out. You can also watch our voice analysis from the previous debates here and here.

]]>7 Experts Share Their Secrets to a Long, Healthy Lifehttp://blog.doctoroz.com/dr-oz-blog/7-experts-share-their-secrets-to-a-long-healthy-life
Wed, 21 Sep 2016 14:11:11 +0000http://blog.doctoroz.com/?p=6956Today The Dr. Oz Show was excited to host a conference on longevity sponsored by USANA Health Sciences. An amazing group of speakers shared their unique insights into how to...

Today The Dr. Oz Show was excited to host a conference on longevity sponsored by USANA Health Sciences. An amazing group of speakers shared their unique insights into how to live the longest and best quality life possible; including visionary Arianna Huffington, Olympian Alev Kelter, sleep expert Dr. Michael Breus, and chef Marcus Samuelson. Each of our guests shared tips from their own experiences to help all of us live our best lives.

Arianna Huffington learned the hard way the value of a good night’s rest. A serial entrepreneur, Arianna was not afraid of staying up all night to get things done, but soon discovered neglecting her sleep was costing her more than she realized. She was so exhausted that she actually passed out from sleep deprivation! It was then that she discovered that sleep is not just about passive rest; it’s about actively renewing the body. Since then, she’s been inspiring others to value the importance of sleep and shared a few of her favorite tips. The first and most unexpected: get rid of all of the mobile devices in your bedroom. Arianna doesn’t even charge her phone in her bedroom. This helps you focus on your sleep instead of the rest of the world. Next, before you go to bed, do something relaxing. For Arianna that means taking a hot shower. Her third tip was about what to wear in bed. She advises not just to wear the clothes you wear during the day, instead wear something special. This helps you separate sleep from the rest of the day and could be anything from fancy lingerie to just a special T-shirt.

Understanding and working with our biological clock is another key to a long life and sleep expert Dr. Michael Breus explained how to figure out your body’s own natural clock—your chronotype. There are many ways to take advantage of your chronotype, which he outlines in his new book, The Power of When. You might be surprised to learn that one of the most impactful ways you can use information about your biological clock doesn’t have to do with how to sleep, but rather how you take your medications. According to Dr. Breus, the best time to take a statin is at night, because cholesterol production is actually greatest during the time we sleep. It’s also best to take aspirin in the evening, because platelets, the sticky blood particles that help cause heart attacks, are the stickiest during the night. On the other hand, the best time to take your probiotics is in the morning, because breakfast is often the biggest meal of the day and this can help protect the bacteria from being destroyed by the acids in the stomach.

Though we may not always think about it, our mental health is also important for a long life. We all face challenges and being mentally resilient can help us get through the tough times and find opportunities to thrive. Alev Kelter is a phenomenal athlete and had an important lesson to teach about seizing the moment. Alev is on both U.S. National Soccer and Hockey Teams, but she was devastated when didn’t make the Olympic teams for either of these sports this past summer. As someone who spends her life training her body to take punishment, she realized that she could handle the emotional disappointment and kept her eyes open for other opportunities. When she found out that there was a spot on the Olympic Rugby team, she decided to take a chance and go for it. She ended up competing in Brazil in her first summer Olympics.

A conference on longevity wouldn’t be complete without talking about diet. Superstar chef Marcus Samuelson, owner of Red Rooster in Harlem, New York, knows a few things about eating for a long life. Marcus was born in Ethiopia and was adopted by a family in Sweden at a young age. He tries to incorporate the traditional food of both places into his cooking. His most important advice on eating for a long life is—eat fish! Growing up, he ate fish at least four times a week and wants everyone to try to incorporate more of it into their diets. He shared a great trick for cooking a whole striped bass. Fill a roasting pan with about an inch of water put a rack in it. Put the pan on the stove and heat until the water boils. While that’s happening place your one-pound fish on a plate, season with salt and pepper and stuff the inside with scallions. Next put the plate onto the rack, cover the roasting pan with foil and cook for 8 minutes. After 8 minutes, turn off the heat and let the fish sit for another 10 minute. Now the fish will be cooked perfectly and will go well with lemon or your favorite sauce.

Maximizing your body’s metabolism is another important way to increase your longevity. Dr. Lyle MacWilliam is a nutrition scientist who still remembers all of the details of how the body works that most of us forget after the tests. According to Dr. MacWilliam it is important that we balance our intake of certain vitamins and minerals to achieve metabolic efficiency. For example, we all know that vitamin D is an important vitamin for our bone health, especially as we get older, but without the right amount of vitamin K2, we may not be building the strongest bones our bodies are capable of. So to maximize your body’s natural bone renewal system, Dr. MacWilliam recommends getting 2000 IU of vitamin D and 30 micrograms of vitamin K a day.

Living in a healthy environment is also important of a long life. Companies take air quality in the work place seriously, because they know that employees in poorly ventilated buildings may be up to one and half times more likely to take sick leave from work than those in a well ventilated space. We often forget that air quality in the home is also important. David Wentz, CEO of USANA and author of the book The Healthy Home is concerned about how toxins in the air we breathe in our living spaces can negatively affect our health. He has a simple test to determine if you could have an indoor air problem—your nose knows. If you can smell odors from last night’s dinner the next day, you are not getting enough ventilation. According to David, the easiest way to get fresh air in and bad air out is to open your windows as much as you can. Also consider installing a window fan, which can help even more.

The cells that make up our body our constantly bombarded with molecules that can damage them, so repair and replacement is an important function of the body and living a long healthy life. Though we all wish we could get all of the essential vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants we need from foods, many people still struggle to achieve this. Dr. Sinnott, chief scientific officer of USANA, advises everyone to take a multivitamin to ensure optimal cellular nutrition. USANA recently launched its newest product Incelligence, which is an important upgrade to their multivitamin. The ingredients in Incelligence are all important ingredients in making cells work. According to Dr. Sinnott the antioxidants and minerals in Incelligence can trigger signals within cells that lead to cellular renewal and healthier cells.

Overall it was an exciting day and a change of pace in The Dr. Oz Show studio. Look for more from these great speakers on our show and USANA’s website soon.

This week, I am excited to announce The Regimen, a seven-step checklist that guides you every day toward your healthiest self. It’s a comprehensive approach that’s based on the latest research in areas such as nutrition, mental health, and fitness. Including information from the best foods to eat to maintain a healthy gut to the most important activity to keep your brain young, The Regimen is designed for you now and in the future.

I’ve teamed up with top physicians and experts in their fields to develop The Regimen including:

Frank Lipman, an integrative and functional medicine specialist

Sharon Moalem, a genetic specialist

Jennifer Caudle, family medicine physician and mental health advocate

Laila Ali, fitness and wellness guru

Haylie Pomroy, a holistic health and nutrition specialist

Get started with The Regimen instructions and find out what you should eat, drink, do, and take on a daily basis. You’ll learn why probiotics and prebiotics are worth adding to your diet, how to season your food the smart way, and more practical tips you can begin applying to your life now. This step-by-step method will help you establish habits that stick and improve your lifestyle for the better.

]]>Why We Need More Funding to Fight the Zika Virushttp://blog.doctoroz.com/dr-oz-blog/why-we-need-more-funding-to-fight-the-zika-virus
Wed, 07 Sep 2016 22:10:18 +0000http://blog.doctoroz.com/?p=6919Congress came back from its summer break this week and once again, failed to pass funding for the fight against the Zika virus. The situation is getting more urgent, with...

Congress came back from its summer break this week and once again, failed to pass funding for the fight against the Zika virus. The situation is getting more urgent, with mosquitoes on the U.S. mainland now carrying the disease. Florida has seen 56 infections from local mosquitoes and thousands have gotten Zika from traveling abroad. There have already been 16 infants born in the continental U.S. with Zika, a number that will only rise from here.

The debate over Zika funding has been raging since March, when the White House called for $1.9 billion to help fight the spread of the virus. Congress whittled that down to a $1.1 billion bill that’s gone nowhere due to a political stalemate. Republicans tacked a rider onto the bill that would block Puerto Rico’s Planned Parenthood from getting any of the funding to help stop sexual transmission of the virus, and Democrats won’t vote the bill through with this rider attached. Puerto Rico has been the hardest hit U.S. territory, with almost 14,000 cases so far.

With the current bill looking unlikely to pass, Congress has until the end of the month to figure out another way to fund the fight against Zika before it breaks for election season. In the meantime, the Zika crisis continues and the agencies’ funds are dwindling.

Public health agencies, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the National Institutes of Health, are currently running on fumes to fight the growing Zika crisis. The CDC has moved $38 million over from Ebola funding and $44 million from emergency response funds. Of the total $222 million the agency had allocated for Zika, it’s already spent $200 million of that, according to CDC director Dr. Tom Frieden.

I spoke with Dr. Frieden today about the consequences if the CDC doesn’t receive the funding it urgently needs.

“If we don’t get the money we need from Congress it means we won’t be able to support state and local governments to test women and others for Zika virus,” he told me. “We won’t be able to learn more about the disease. We won’t be able to control mosquitoes more effectively.”

So far, the CDC has been trying to track every pregnant woman with Zika, which it estimates is up to 584 in the U.S. states and 812 in the U.S. territories, with the majority in Puerto Rico.

CDC’s anti-Zika efforts aren’t the only programs that will suffer if Congress isn’t able to find money for the issue. The National Institute for Allergies and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) will have to put efforts to develop a Zika vaccine on hold. The agency already has several promising candidates, including one that’s currently in Phase 1 of human trials. But if the agency doesn’t get funding by the end of September, it won’t be able to move on to Phase 2 of the trials, according to Anthony Fauci, director of NIAID.

Funding to fight Zika has broad support from the public, with a new survey from March of Dimes showing that 74 percent of Americans favor increased federal funding for research to prevent the spread of Zika. If you’re one of these people, don’t be afraid to let your representatives in Congress know that you support an urgent solution to Zika funding. I’ll be calling my representatives.

For more information on the virus and to find out who is at risk and how to protect yourself, visit the CDC’s Zika Virus page, which is updated daily.

Look out for our big show on Zika, with interviews with Dr. Frieden of the CDC, Anthony Fauci of NIAID, and all the information you need to know to stay safe, next week.